Rest In Peace

This is going to be a blathering and possibly sad post. You might want to go read another blog...I'm writing for me today...




My aunt died this morning....though she was not really my aunt. She was my mom's cousin's wife, but I've known her all my life as Tante Ruth.

She was pretty spectacular. She grew up in Wellesley, MA and was the most proper, put together woman I have ever known. She was an impeccable executive secretary and never wore white shoes after Labor Day. Her purse and shoes matched and she wore amazing pieces of jewelry. She had a great Boston/Maine accent and she had a great laugh. She was very generous and kind. She loved boxer dogs and long haired cats (RIP Cupcake).

It's been a hard year for her. My uncle passed away in February - they had been married over 50 years. Her health has been getting worse and worse all year. She's been in the hospital 3 times in the last two months. Finally we told the Dr's no more. No more xrays, no more tests, no more prodding, poking and drugging. She was old and her body wanted to stop, but for medical science it could not. So we moved her back to her care facility and arranged for hospice care just 2 weeks ago today.

They were wonderful and kind. I was able to see her a couple of times. She was too weak to talk, but I got a few yes's and no's to some direct questions. I talked "at" her a lot. She had pictures in her room that I went though with her. And then I brought more pictures and talked to her about the beautiful things she had seen and done since I've known her...Oak Creek, AZ, clam chowder at her favorite restaurant, her love of fine clothes! I remember Bullock's was her favorite department store.

She would have been 91 on Thursday. I was planning a visit. My sister reminded me that my aunt used to love pistachio ice cream, so I hunted some down and was going to surprise her with it.

When I got home this afternoon I took it out of the freezer and ate it straight from the container. "Here's to you Tante Ruth - rest in peace. I love you and will miss you."

Poverty Party Post #1

So the Poverty Party idea over at bossy's couldn't be more timely. I could use a little helpful advice because our house economy was in the tank way before Wall Street took a dive.

We went from one kid in braces to two. And the beauty of that is that kid #1 was supposed to be OUT of braces in June but since we're exceeded our 2 year mark, we get to pay an extra $50 a month for her...and kid #2 is $100 for the next 10 months. I am seriously thinking about getting some wire cutters and being done with it myself. So then there's tennis lessons for kid #2 - a new development...and cost. And then there's the swim team Board that I serve on - voted away our free swimmer deal (because the swim team economy is also in the tank...or better - it sank to the bottom of the pool!) and now we have to cough up an additional $90 a month for kid #1 to swim. And I'm betting that $90 monthly dues (actually a bargain for the return she gets)are going to go up in order to get the team budget to balance for next year...and that's because the school district is also searching for revenue and will undoubtedly come around and say, "Hey - swim team - you should pay $80 an hour for the use of that cold water and dirty pool deck and no toilet paper in the bathrooms and for the privilege of dealing with snotty bureaucratic administrative types that hold the power to withdraw your permit on a whim. Don't cha think?"

Yep. Timley. Money is tight.

So here's what I've done so far to be help to my house economy. I've started (last week) making a menu and a list for the grocery store for the entire week. That means I have to know what I'm fixing for dinner every single night and get the ingredients for said meals in advance! Once upon a time, pre-motherhood, I used to do this - it was based on my hatred of the grocery store, not because I was organized or was trying to save money. I just hated going to the store. But when I had a baby, the store became more appealing because I could go ALONE! Thus, weekly menu and shopping - not so much. Ok - so last week it worked out pretty good. I only made 2 extra trips to the store and I think I spent about $50-80 less than a normal week.

So that's option number one for now. Spend less on food. Anyone else have any good saving plans?

Christmas Gifts in October

EEW! Isn't that obscene???? WHO in their right mind considers Christmas gifts before Trick or Treating?? WHO?

well...

I have to confess...

just this one time...

me.

I'm sorry! I don't usually partake in Christmas thinking until after Thanksgiving. But I just had the perfect opportunity and the perfect idea!

Remember back in August when I was contemplating all 200+ of my camping photos? Well I needed to go to Long's and said to myself "What are you waiting for?!?! There are two sets of very deserving friends who would love to see pictures from a year and a half ago (oops!) and from 6 months ago (double oops!) - why not let them wait just 3 more months and make them the cutest two 5x7 picture booklets they have ever seen?"

So I grabbed my memory stick with 264 pictures on it and went to use the exceptional machine that is the HP Photo Center! I had pictures from two camping trips so I decided to make one booklet for each and order two prints of each.

And I'm here to say, I'm really happy I checked out the whole process back in August and that I had taken the time to look over the HP Photo Booth brochure that I picked up. It was a good thing to know what I was going to do when I got there because it took me about 15-20 minutes to work through the entire process for both books! It was so simple! All you have to do is choose the pictures, choose the project (booklets are just one option - I could have done a hardcover book! Or a poster or a set of cards...), choose the background, add a little text and your off! I turned in my little ticket to the lady and the counter and she said "They'll be done in about an hour." Wow! An hour! Cool! So I went to Kohl's and bought a sweater!

When I got back, the package was ready and waiting - they look really cute! I am very pleased with the whole process and of course, myself for having two Christmas gifts ready to go - even if it is still OCTOBER!

Want to make a photo gift of your own before Halloween? Follow this link to a start your Christmas shopping early too! (*Coupon courtesy of BlueSuitMom.com)

Badge of Intent....II

I did it.

Today I decided what my Badge of Intent would say and I ordered it.


It says: Kirsten.......I am A Reliable Resource.

I'm excited and thrilled to share the rest, but I still have lots more homework and loose ends to tie up. But honestly, I have NEVER believed more in a statement than I do that one! YAY!